Good Fortune mystery starting putting it together

I love this mystery quilt it might be my favourite I can't decide.
A big thank you to Bonnie keeping us guessing to the end. I also feel there weren't so many pieces in the quilt as in past years I've done all the clues but never put the blocks together until later in the year.
So this is where I'm up to the blocks are together just need to do the borders. With any luck I'll be able to complete the quilt over the weekend as I'm back to work tomorrow. I've accomplished a lot while being on my break but still a bit more jobs I would have like to do around the house.

I'm very pleased I changed a couple of the colours .

And I discovered using the woollen pressing mat did make a difference to the flatness of the  blocks. I'm very impressed. So a big thank you to son no 3 who took up my hint of wanting one for christmas.

I still cant make up my mind do I prefer Good Fortune or Alietare the 2015/2016 mystery.

 I enjoy having Allietare on the bed in the winter. Good Fortune I think will go over the back of one of our couches time to do an update of them.

Go and check put the different fabrics now the quilts are coming together on Bonnie's blog.

http://quiltville.blogspot.com/2019/01/mystery-monday-link-up-reveal.html?m=1

A sum up of what I've been up to these holidays

It's hard to believe I'm back to work next week I've had a busy time trying to finish a few projects.

I've emptied all these crates there were a few projects in there but the others had fabric in that I've managed to put in with other fabrics. The cupboard I keep my fabric in I'd looking a bit tidier but not tidy enough to take a photo.

Made 3 table runners from blocks I had part made in a class at Blenheim mini symposium a couple of years ago with Hazel Foote. Decided I didnt need a NZ themed wall hanging. The table runners I can give away as gifts.

I found I'd cut enough circles for another 3 baby quilts so I've made them up too. No idea what I was thinking doing that.

My lovely giraffe wall hanging I am now thinking of the best way to quilt it as there are lots of seams.

I decided on the best way to use my 4 patch leaders and enders so there's enough for 2 quilts one with blue hourglass blocks between and one with red. I'm saving putting them together until I go on retreat in March.

Amazingly enough I've finished my 

Forget me not paper pieced hexagon quilt which was a free pattern o  line by Sue Daley.

I am thrilled with it but for a while it will be sitting in my quilts waiting to be quilted pile.

I put together the easier blocks in Good Fortune Bonnie Hunter's mystery which is now revealed. I'm hoping to get this finished before going back to work but I think that's a bit ambitious.

I've also been working on a couple of shop samples for the quilt shop where I work. Need to get my act together and finish them before Wednesday.

And lots of gardening which is looking good. Pity the weeds will grow back quickly.

Pop over and check out what others are up to on these 2 blogs I'm linking up to.

Wendy's Peacock party
http://wendysquiltsandmore.blogspot.com/2019/01/an-early-or-late-christmas-table-runner.html?m=1


Myra at Busy Hands Quilts

http://busyhandsquilts.blogspot.com/2019/01/moda-love-layer-cake-lap-quilt-in-birch.html?m=1

Looking back at my 2018 quilts

 I thought it might be a good idea to review my 2018 finishes. This year I feel as though I haven't completed many but of course life is not just about quilting even if we would like it to be.

I've made a few baby quilts my husband likes to gift his clients when they have a baby of course a quilt so thats a couple each year.

 

My daughters friend had a baby last January and the nursery theme was Peter Rabbit so off to Spotlight I went and bought Peter Rabbit fabric. The quilt I made was simple but cute.

Next quilt I made was a shop sample for Busy Bee quilt shop I jumped at the chance to make it as I love Foundation Piecing.

Then it was an exciting quilt. A quilt for our first grandson Fox who lives in Canada. Of course I had to take the quilt over and was able to spend time with the new family. 

A quilt made entirely from my stash I was trying to use up my Kaffe Fassett fabrics I still have quite a bit left but I have a plan for them.

Another baby quilt this one went to England for another baby in the family. I made 2 one for a boy another for a girl. And I am just finishing the other 3 I cut out and prepared. I dont know what i was thinking but I have a few baby quilts ready for gifting in 2019.

This Christmas one was blocks from an online swap I did many years ago through Southern Cross Quilters.

On Ringo Lake last years Mystery from Bonnie Hunter.

  This actually isn't finished but I completed the top today. The pattern is from Juliet van der Heijden of Tartan Kiwi. I started it in a class organised by Wellington quilters in July. I didnt get back to it because I had a phobia about how I was going to place the background fabrics. Anyway I just did it yesterday I could change a couple of colours. But I'm not its finished!

And of course I've made a start on Good Fortune this years mystery from Bonnie. 

I've changed the colours a bit I wanted a richer colorway.

Tomorrow as it's a new year I am going to make my yearly list of unfinished objects not all of them are quilts I'm sure. Ad I've managed to complete a few during the holiday break it will be interesting to see what is still hiding in the cupboard.

Happy New Year.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas everyone it's already Christmas day here in New Zealand.

As you can see we are having  a wet but warm day here the Pohutakawa tree you can see in the distance is starting to turn red. I think Island Bay may be a bit cooler than the rest of Wellington so it's not in full bloom yet.

There's been a bit of excitement on our street first a fire engine and  a bit of smoke apparently from a pizza oven.

Santa has been to our house and the presents are waiting to be opened which I guess will happen soon. As long as I get what i asked for I'll be very happy if not I'll go and buy it myself tomorrow.

I've managed to keep up so far with Bonnie Hunters mystery but if she starts to give us the clues quickly like she has in the past I'm going to get left behind but that doesnt matter I give myself the year to finish the quilt in just before the new mystery.

And just to prove it here us Ringo Lake quilted and bound finished last night. Its quilted quite densely as it wasn't the flattest of quilts and now you cant notice. 

I'm linking up to Bonnie Hunters part 5 mystery link up. Go and check out how everyone is going 

http://quiltville.blogspot.com/2018/12/mystery-monday-link-up-part-5.html?m=1

I'm a Christmas lover much to my husband the grinchs horror. When my children were younger they also got a lot of pleasure from Christmas a photo with Santa every year. Off to the now gone  Kirkcaldies department store christmas shop and choosing a Christmas decoration each. It was all fun.
Now they have almost all left home christmas isn't the same I've got rid of a lot of decorations but still have my quilts.

I think the first christmas quilt I made was in 2001 it was a star block online swap in Christmas colors.

Over the next couple of years I went in christmas row by row swaps with another online group Southern Cross quilters and made these 2. One of the disadvantages of not putting labels on quilts I have no idea what year I made these.

And still drawn to Christmas quilts I did a block of the month from the Fat Quarter Shop.

I love the colors in this one

And a stitchery from Crab Apple studios I loved doing this one.

And my latest found it hiding in a cupboard this was another swap from Southern cross quilters.

I also have numerous table runners but wont bore you with these. 

http://wendysquiltsandmore.blogspot.com/2018/12/a-christmas-peacock-party.html?m=1

http://wendysquiltsandmore.blogspot.com/2018/12/a-christmas-peacock-party.html?m=1

I'm joing up with Wendy's Christmas Peacock Party 

http://wendysquiltsandmore.blogspot.com/2018/12/a-christmas-peacock-party.html?m=1

Good Fortune Mystery Part 4

Well I went for the easy option the last few days have been a bit crazy so I was delighted at the easier option.

And luckily I am still pleased with my colour choices.

My daughter and I went up to Hastings on Sunday to spend some time with my parents.
There had been an issue with their landline and thought it might be a good idea to just have a mobile phone. To cut a long story short they are back on the landline and I doubt if they will ever look at the mobile again.
Once that was all sorted we went out to lunch st their favourite cafe in the Plant Barn

For us Wellingtonians it was a delight to be able to eat outside enjoying looking at all the plants to buy.

We couldn't get over the size of the hollyhocks in the gardens amazing.

Then this morning we headed off to Birdwood for a quick coffee before heading in the long drive home.

My parents waiting for cake and coffee.

 Custard square for me I didn't need lunch as well after eating this which of course was delicious.

Sculptures in the garden and we had to purchase a few goodies from the old fashioned sweet shop.

Check out  Bonnie Hunters blog showing what others have been doing for this clue. Check it out here.

 http://quiltville.blogspot.com/2018/12/mystery-monday-link-up-part-4.html?m=1

Its Saturday Evening

Its Saturday evening here in New Zealand it's been a full on day as we hosted Lana my Daughter in law 's baby shower. People are so generous she got some lovely baby gifts I said I'd wash the clothes so I get to have another look at the cute clothes.

Here are most of the gifts after unwrapping.

We had a lot of fun shopping for balloons etc for the baby shower. The only bit that wasn't fun was tidying the house and washing all the wooden floors. Lucky I wont be doing it again until after Christmas so thats a bit of a bonus.

On the sewing front i managed to get the top together for the babies quilt just need to quilt it just needs to be quilted and the binding added will wait till the baby is born before I do the label.

And I'm still working on the never ending hexagon quilt which was a free online pattern by Sue Daley.

I keep thinking it's just about finished and finally it is just 2 sides left to do. Be nice to think it'll be finished by christmas but I doubt it.

I'm linking up with Wendy's Peacock Party.
http://wendysquiltsandmore.blogspot.com/2018/12/peacock-party-and-my-gingerbread.html?m=1